Tow bar



C. A. KLEIN Sept. 9, 1952 TOW BAR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1948 IINVENTOR. .5 fl/f/e/ ATTORNEY C. A. KLEIN Sept. 9, 1952 TOW BAR 2SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1948 0 I INVENTOR. (/efug i/f/e/h.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1952 om s TOW BAR I Cletus A. Klein, Caro,Mich. I Application August 14, 1948, SerialNo. 44,335

7 was; (c1. ash-33.44)

This invention relates to tow or draft bars such as used to couple atrailer or other vehicle to a bumper of an automobile.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to provide a draft bar sodesigned that it can be readily connected to and/or disconnected from anautomobile bumper, without the use of special tools, and without boringholes in or otherwise defacing the bumper.

Another object of the invention is to design an attaching device, whichis adjustable to fit bumpers of different vertical widths and shapes,and which permits of universal movement in any direction, to the endthat the towed vehicle may turn and ride over rough terrain, without inany manner clamping or binding the securing means.

A further object is to provide a very simple, practical, and relativelyinexpensive draft or tow bar which can be readily manufactured andassembled, which is exceedingly effective forthe purpose for which it isdesigned, and which can be readily attached without the possibilityofinjury to the workman when attaching it in posi- :tion.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and minordetails of construction, without departing from the spirit,orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side-elevational view showing my improved tow bar attachedto an automobile bumper which is shown in section.

,Fig. 2 is a top, plan view thereof with the bumper omitted.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, plan view of a section of the chain andattaching link.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings. The tow bar includes apreferably cast head element 8 formed as clearly shown in the drawingsand having spaced-apart ears 9 cast integral with the rear face thereof,and to which one end of a draft bar I0 is connected by means of a pin H.

The lower end of the head element is bifurcated to form legs [2, theprojecting edges or etc.

cheeks l3 of which may ear against the'bumper B when the tow bar isinattached position: similar forwardly projecting sections l4are'provided on the upper edge of the head element, and these sectionsalso hear on the bumper when the tow bar is in attached position.

? Laterally spaced, downwardly and outwardly curved passages I5 and I6areformed in said head element as shown, and accommodate the flexiblechain's C. which are connected to .the head and bumper respectively, andina manner to be hereinafter described. 1 7

Each chain is made up of a plurality of links I! connected by means ofpins I8 which project a predetermined distance beyond the side walls ofthe links, and pin pockets l9 and 20 are provided in the head elementdirectly adjacent the passages l5 and it to accommodate the projectingends of one of the pins l8 for anchoring said chain to the head, theouter free end of each chain being provided with a hook link 21 hingedlyconnected to the end pin l8 and being formed withan open jaw 22 forengagement with the upper edge of a bumper 13" and as clearly shown inFig. 1 of the drawings.

Each of the chains is identical in construction and the anchoring andattachment is exactly the same, therefore, a description of but one willsuffice for both.

The passages l5 and I6 are formed as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of thedrawings to permit easy travel of the chains therein, and to accommodatethe projecting ends of the pin without snagging A centrally disposedvertical opening 23 is provided in the block 8, and a bolt 24 isaccommodated therein, the lower end of said bolt being fiatted as at 25,and one end of a chain 26 is connected thereto by means of a pin 21, the

upper end of the bolt being threaded and a nut 28 is provided thereon,said chain being exactly the same as that above described, exceptingthat the one end is anchored to the bolt 24 and the opposite end has anattaching link 29 secured to one of the link pins l8 at a pointintermediate the length of the chain.

Wings 30 are provided on the edges of the link 29 and a yoke member 3|is pivotally mounted in said wings and bears on the face of the links toprevent accidental release thereof, and a hookshaped jaw section 32 isformed integral with the link 29 for releasably engaging the lower edgeof the bumper.

In practice, the device is attached by hooking the jaw-shaped ends 22 ofthe chains (2" over the upper ends of the bumper B, after which theoperator lifts the pins 18 out of the pin seats I9 and 20 and takes upthe slack in the chains, then dropping the proper pin into thepin seat.

The next step is to connect the lower chain to the lower edge of thebumper. The operator first connects the attaching link 29 to the properpin [8 at a point intermediate the length of the chain, hooks the jawonto the lower edge of the bumper} and then manipulates the nut 28 totake up the remaining slack, so that the jaws 22 and 32 are firmlysecured to the bumper, and the attachment is completed.

edge of the bumper, and means for actuating the adjustable means toapply clamping stress to said chains and firmly secure the head elementto said bumper.

3. In combination with a tow bar, of a coupling head element adapted tobe secured to an automobile burnper, a draft bar hingedly secured to theone face of the head element, a chain passage in the upper end of theelement, pin seats in the head element directly adjacent the chainpassage, a link chain accommodated in said passage, laterally projectingmeans on said chain To release, it ismerely necessary to reverse the Yoperation, loosening the nut 28 to provide sufficient slack in the lowerchain C to permit the link 29 to fall free, after which the links 2| areeasily removable. The shape and design of the bumper is immaterial asthe chains are flexible and can be attached to any design.

. While in the present instance I have shown two;chains forattachm'entto the bumper at the upper .end of, the device, it will bereadilyunderstood that this is a matter of choice only, and

that; but one chain can be provided at the top if desired; likewise,there can be two chains provided at the lower end of the coupling headif desired and found expedient.

-..While'the specification sets forth in detail the present preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetails may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention as defined by the claims. 7 a

What Iclaim is: 1 1.111" a tow bar hitch, the combination of a couplingformed with spaced-apart passages in the upper end thereof, individuallink chains having one end slidably and adjustably mounted in saidpassages and engageable with the upper edge of an" automobile bumper, anadjustable member mounted in said head, a coupling chain -.connected tothe lower end of the adjusting memberand having an attaching linkthereon and adapted to be connected to the lower edge of the bumper,said adjusting member subjecting the .-,chains-to clamping stresses. 12. In combination with a tow bar, of a coupling head element adapted tobe secured to an auto- =mobile bumper, said element beingformed witha'passage intthe upper end thereof, alink chain having its one endadjustably accommodated in sa id'passage and formed with a hook on theopposite end for engagement with the upper edge of 'a bumper, said chainbeing provided with later-ally"projecting pins projecting beyond theside walls of the'links, seats in the upper face of the head element forreleasably accommodating a predetermined pair of pins therein and securethe chain in adjusted position, adjustable means =rnounted on said headelement, a link chain connected on one end thereof, an attaching link:on said chain for engagement with the lower and releasably engageablein said seats for securhook on its free end for engagement with theupper edge of a bumper, a quickly adjustable member mounted in said headelement, a chain connected to one end thereof and to the lower edge ofthe bumper, said element serving to tighten said chains and firmlysecure said head element to said bumper. V

4, In a tow bar hitch, the combination of a coupling formed with apassage in the upper end thereof, pin pockets adjacent said passage, alink chain slidably and adjustably mounted in said passage andreleasably anchored in said pin pockets with itsouter free endengageable with the upper edge of an automobile bumper, an adjustablemember mounted in said head, a coupling chain attached to the lower endof the adjustable member and having an attaching link adapted to beconnected to the lower edge of the bumper, said adjusting membersubjecting said chain to clamping stresses.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 in which the link chain isprovided with projecting hinge pins engageable in said pin pockets, andforwardly projecting cheeks on said'coupling for engage- 'ment with theface of theburnper.

G. The combination as defined in claim 2 in which the link chainconnected to the one end of the adjustable means is formedwith'laterally projecting pins projecting beyond the side wall of thelinks, and the attaching link on said chain for engaging the lower edgeof the bumper is loosely mounted thereon.

7. The combination'as defined in claim 2 in which the one end of theadjustable means is flatted and the link chain is pivotally connectedthereto.

CLETUS'A. KLEIN.

REFERENCES erran- The followingreferences are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

